This book was a wonderful surprise! I have read several books on wagon trains to the American west. This is my new favorite. It is well written -- the characters are lifelike, and the narrative is colorful. One scene in particular, which described a trip down dangerous white water rapids was especially exciting. Wish there was a sequel.

Having just read another very well written, couldn't put it down story of wagon trains heading west, I found this one to be less than gripping. Maybe without that comparison it could have rated better. It was still a nice, easy to read little story, certainly well researched as to dates and landmarks along the way from Missouri to Oregon in 1843. I don't think I've ever read a book with so much conversation - the story, the character development, nearly everything was portrayed in words spoken between characters, which meant it was never quite as deep as when such things are narrated. There were two very like-able leading ladies from two generations, making the book appealing to a wide age range of reader. It was an easy to read story.